Telephone system



J. N. REYNOLDS.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.2I, 1917 Patented Aug. 9,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- J. N. REYNOLDS.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 21 1911.

1,387, 180. Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

//4 wnfor: /0hn A rwfiW/y Reyna/d W W m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN NEW'BERRY REYNOLDS, OF GREENWICII, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR '1'0 WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. .Y., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM,

To all 407mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN NEWBERRY REYN- ime, a citizen of the United States, residing 'at Greenwich, in the county of Fairlield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Systems, of which the following toms, and more particularly to an improved and simplified form of automatic switching a 'iparatus foruse in automatic or semi-automatic telephone systems. a

In stop-by-step (automatic telephone systems employing two-movemcnt automatic switching apparatus it is customary to employ two slow acting relays and two stepping magnets to control the setting and re leasing of the switching, apparatus.

The main feature of this invention is the provislon of automatic swltching apparatus in which single stepping magnet is used for the two directive movements and in which a combined mechanical and electrical controlling device is utilized for controlling the setting and releasing of the switching apparatus. p

Another feature relates to the construction of the switch and consists in the simplified manner of translating a vertical movement of the brush shaftintoa rotary movement of the brushes. I

Anadditional feature of this invention is the provision of an electromagnetic device having two armatures one of which is electrically rendered slower than the other.

These and other features of the invention will he more readily understood by reference to the detailed description and appended claims.

Peferringto the drawings Figure 1 is elevation and view of the brush opc ling mechanism embodying features of this invention, with certain portions of the switch broken away; Fig.2 a plan view he stepping magnet taken upon the line 2 42 of Fig. 1; Fig. .3 is a sectional view of a portion of the switch taken upon the line of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspective u-- view of the operating parts of the switch in conjunction with a diagrammatic showing of a circuit arrangement suitable for operating such switch in a telephone system.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

Application filed November 21, 1917. semi no. 203,091.

The switch shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is somewhat similar to that described 111 my co-pending application, Serial No. 158,190, filed March 29, 1917, except that means are provided for imparting a vertical and rotary movement to the brushesinstead of a vertical and transverse movement.

Numerals Sand 6 designate contact banks representing the line and test terminals of a plurality of lines. These contact banks may be of any suitable and well-known construction and may comprise ten arcuate horizontal rows and ten vertical rectilinear rows of contacts. The contacts are arranged to be wiped over by brushes 50, 51 and 52 shown in Fig. 1 as secured to a cylindrical shell This shell is provided with a spiral slot 25 and is rotatably and slida-bly mounted on a shaft 11, which shaft is also slidably mounted for vertical movement in the frame 13 of the switch. The shaft 11 at its upper end is provided with a pin 26 arranged to extend through the spiral slot 25, and operates under certain conditions to rotate the cylindrical shell and its brushes. The lower end of the shaft 11 is provided with teeth arranged to be engaged by a vertically operating pawl 12. This pawl is pivoted upon a lever58 fixed to the armature 98 of a stepping magnet 59. The magnet 59, the details of which will be hereinafter described, and its armature, are supported on an extension 67 of the frame 13. A rod 16, parallel to and. adjacent to the shaft 11, is journalecl for rotation in the frame 13, and

provided intermediate its ends with a vertical rib 17 which controls the movement of the lever 19. This lever, which is pivoted on a rod 20 (see Fig. 3), is provided with a dog 23 to normally engage notch 21 in the cylindrical shell 10 and a second locking dog 22. Thedog 22, when lever 19 is actuated, engages a notched bar 21. This bar is secured to the frame and operates with the dog 22 to lock the cylindrical shell in the position to which it has. been elevated.

.lVhenthe lever 19 is moved about its axis,

the dog .22 there-on will be moved into engagement with a notch on the bar 21 and the dog 23 will be moved out of its slot 2450f which a forked member 27 extends. This forked member is rotatably and slidably mounted upon the rod 20 secured to bar 21, and is arranged to move vertically with the lever 19, but rotates independently of this lever.

A sequence controlling device including,

a side switch is provided to control the circuits and several mechanical movements of the switch. This device comprises a notched disk 69, a ratchet wheel 151, a star wheel 152 and a side switch 82. The notched disk 69 is mounted on the shaft 150 for rotation in the frame (not shown), and is engaged by an arm 15 secured to the lower end of the rod 16 to control the rotation of this red. The rod 16 is held tensioned by springs or other suitable means (not shown) with the arm 15 normally engaging a notch in disk 69. Secured to the shaft 150 is a ratchet wheel 151 which is arranged to be engaged by the operating pawl 152, pivotally mounted on the armature 66 of the escape magnet 65. A star wheel 152 is secured at the outer end of the shaft 150 and operates an arm 153 to control the movement of the said switch indicated at 82.

The stepping magnet 59 is provided with two armatures, 60 and 98, the former quick acting and the latter slow acting. Two iron cores 61 and 62, having magnet spools 190 and 65, are secured to a substantially U- shaped magnetic frame 67. Each of the cores has one end of smaller diameter than the other. The small end of each of the cores 61 and 62 is threaded and extends through apertures in one upright of the frame 67. The cores are secured to said frame by means of internally threaded cop 'per collars 63 and 64, screwed on said cores.

Fixed to the frame 67 is an armature support 68. Pivotally mounted upon the armature support is a lever 69, one end of which operates contact springs 70 and 71 and the other end of which is forked and carries across the forked ends, a flexible strip 72 secured thereto. Fixed to the flexible strip 72 is an armature 60. Since the strip 72, which is the support of the armature 60, is flexible. a better magnetic path is provided. due to the fact that both ends of the armature are permitted to come in contact with the ends of the iron cores 61 and 62, thus reducing the air gap and consequently the magnetic leakage of the cores at this end to a minimum. A bent over portion 99 of the frame 67 has a lever 58 pivotally mounted thereupon. Pivotally mounted upon one end of he lever 58 is a Stepping pawl 12, and secured to said lever in a position adapted to be attracted by the cores 61 and 62, is an armature 98. The armature 98 is normally held away from the ends of the cores 61 and 62 by a spring 73, one end of which is attached to the lever 58 and the other end to an angle arm 74 fixed to the frame. A

front contacts 129 and 130.

wider air gap is provided for the armature 98 than for the armature 60. As a result of these features of design, when current impulses flow through the windings of spools 6-1: and 65, sufficient magnetism is formed to operate both armatures of the magnet. The armature 98 being heavy and in its operative position, tensioned, retracts at each interruption of current. The armature 60, however, due to the features in design herein described, remains attracted during short interruptions of current.

Referring to Fig. 4;, A may represent a calling suhscribers station the line for which is connected with line switch terminals 111, 111 adapted to be engaged by movable contacts 112. 112. Assuming that the subscriber at station A desires connection with a subscriber at a substation B, the operation will be as follows: The subscriber 11, upon the removal of his receiver from the switchhook. will automatically have his line connected with the movable contacts 112. 112 in a well known manner. hrough the operation of a line switch. Following the closure of the line switch contacts, a relay 115, associated with the switch embodying the features of this invention. will he energized over the line circuit through position 1. of

side-switch wipers 116 and 117, controlled by this switch. The energization of relay 115 will cause it to open its back contact 121. and close its front contact 122 to ground. thereby completing a parallel circuit, one limb includin slow release relay 123, the other limb including a test relay 124. Upon e ergization, the test relay 12 1 becomes locked up over a circuit including its own contact. side-switch wiper 126 in its first and second positions, and a secondary olfnormal contact 127 of the selector switch. The slow-releasing relay .23 upon energization opens its back contact 128 and closes its Jrt contact 136 a break point in the energizing circuit of the stepping magnet 59 is closed, and when in response to the first impulse from the dial at sulrstation A. the relay 115 retracts its armature. the stepping magnet 59 is encrgizei. and attracts its arlnatures. It will he ment, the dog 23 engages the notch 24 so that the shell cannot rotate on the shaft 11. As a result of this, the brushes secured to the shell 10 are elevated to the desired group of lines. If it be assumed that the subscriber at substation A first dials the digit 4, four impulses of current will be successively transmitted to the line relay 115, to cause this relay to vibrate its armature.

In response to these four impulses of current, the stepping magnet 59. actuate; its armature 98 and therefore the pawl 12 to elevate the brush shaft and the brushes 50, 51 and 52 to select the fourth level or group of trunks appearing at the switch.

Atthe termination of this-series of impulses, the energizing circuit of the stepping magnet 59 will be interrupted for a sufli ciently long period to permit the slow releasing armature 60 to interrupt the circuit of the escape magnet 65 at contact 133. The escape magnet 65 on denergizing, retracts its armati'ire .66 and through the agency of pawl 152 rotates the ratchet wheel 151 one step. -The disk 69 and the star .wheel 152 secured to the shaft 150 are likewise rotated one step. One of the cam surfaces of the star wheel 152 forces the arm to the left,

thereby movingthe set of side-switch wipers to the second position. Simultaneously the projection on arm 15 passes through a notch to the rear side of disk 151. This operation causes the arm 15 and therod 16 to which it is secured, to be rotated counter-clockwise. The rib 17 engages the lever 19, thereby removing the dog 23 from the notch 24 and causing the dog 22 to engage the fourth notch in bar 21. As a result of this opera- 7 tion. the cylindrical shell 10 is locked against vertical movement but is made free to rotate. i u v I I It will be remembered that the test relay 124 upon the first energization of the line relay 115was locked up overa circuit completedthrough the off-normal contact 127,

which is not open until the switch has taken its first secondary or rotary step. When the ,rotary or secondary movement of this selector switch takes place, the secondary oil"- normal contact is opened. If, however, the first trunk of the selected group is busy, this condition will be indicated by the presence of ground on the test conductor 1.0,and the locking circuit-of the test magnet 124 will be maintained from grounded battery, winding,'left-hand armature and spring of the test relay 124, side-switch wiper 126 in its second position, test brushes 52 and the test terminal associated with. thelfirst trunk of the fourth group to, ground over its test conductor 10. a I

- Vith the test relay 124'; energized in the second position of the sideeswitch wipers,

nn energizingcircuit is closed for the stepping magnets 59 :f fromugrounded battery,

winding of this magnet, side-switch wiper 132 in its second position, contact 137, armature 98, conductor 1 34;, contact 136 and armatureof relay 124 to ground. The stepping magnet 59 interrupts its operating circuit in the well-known manner and at each attraction of its armature. elevates the brush shaft 11 one step.

Since the cylindrical shell 10 is now locked against elevation,the vertical movement of the brush, shaft 11, through the agency of the pin 26 and the slot 25, effects the rotary movement of the cylindrical shell 10 with its sets of brushes, one step for each step that the shaft 11 is elevated with the first energization of the stepping magnet and throughout the period of the secondary operation of the switch, the slow releasing armature G0 is held attracted. During the attraction of the armature 60, the escape magnet is maintained energized.

hen an idle trunk in the selected group has been found, the relay 12 1- is dei-inergiaod, causing the deiinergization of the stepping magnet 59. Since the stepping magnet 59 now remains deenergized for a relatively long period, the slow releasing armature 60 of this magnet is retracted, thereby interrupting the energizing circuit of the escape magnet 65 at contact 133. then retracts its armature 66 to advance the ratchet wheel 1531 together with the disk-G9 and the star wheel 152 an additional step. This brings the projection of arm 15 into the notch 158 and also moves the arm. 153

The escape magnet.

outward to bring side-switch wipers 82 into their third or talking condition.

In this position, the line relay 115 is bridged to the talking circuit and'is energized throughout the period of conversation. The relay 115 thus maintains its armature attracted to close its contact 122 and thus maintain the slow releasing relay 123 enerzed. The relay 123 at its front contact 129 closes a circuit from ground through relay ceiver on the switchhook, the relay 115 and 'in turn the slow releasing relay 123 aredoenergized. The de'energization of the relay 123 closesvan energizing circuit for the escape magnet 65, which extends from grounded battery, armature and contact 128 of relay 123, side-switch wiper 145 in its third position, conductor 157, contact 14.9, armature and winding of escape. magnet 65 to grounded battery. The escape magnet (35 attracts its armatiure and thereby interrupts its energizing circuit at the contact 149..

The armature in retracting again advances the ratchet vheel l5l one step to bring the side-switch wipers 82 into their fourth position. This operation also brings the projection on the arm 15 to the front side of the disk 69. The arm 15 thus rotates the rod 16 clockwise, thereby causing the hook 90 to withdraw the holding dog 91 from the teeth or the brush shaft 11. The brush shaft 11 drops down under the iorce oi gravity.

At this time, however, the cylindrical shell 10 is locked against vertical movementthat the descent of the shaft ll, through the agency of the pin 26 and the spiral slot rotates the cylindrical shell 10 with its brushes. to normal position. At this time the holding dog 23 engages the notch 2% of the shell and withdraws the holding dog from its notch in the bar 21. The shell 10 and the brush shaft ll then descend to normal position, at which time the off-normal contact 156 closed. The closure 01" this contact completes an energizing circuit for the escape magnet 65, which circuit extends to ground through the outer armature and contact 128 of relay 123, side-switch wiper H5 in its fifth position, cit-normal contact 156, conductor 161. contact H9, armature and winding of escape magnet 65 to ground and battery.

The escape magnet attracts ts armature but immediately interrupts energizing circuit at the contact M9, to bring about the retraction of its armature (36. The armature 66 through its pawl 152 advances the ratchet wheel 156 one step. This causes the arm 153 to engage a second cam surface of the star wheel to permit the moving or the sideswitch wipers S2 to normal or position 1. At the same time the projection on arm 15 engages the notch 162 of the disk 69. The cycle of operation has now been completed and the switch is in readiness to be operated for another call.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic switch, passive contacts, active contacts mounted for group and line selecting movements, a cylindrical mem her to which said active contacts are se cured, said cylindrical member being provided with a spiral slot, an actuating member having an element cooperating with said slot, means for operating said actuating member, a controlling device for causing simultaneous operations oi said members during group selecting movement of said contacts and for causing one member to move in one direction and for causing the other member to move in another direction during line selecting movements.

2. In an automatic switch, passive contacts, active contacts mounted tor group and line selecting movements, a cylindrical member to which said active contacts are secured, said cylindrical member being provided with a spiral slot, an actuating member having an element cooperating with said slot, means for operating said actuating member, a controlling device for causing said members to move in the same direction during the group selecting movement of said active contacts and for causing one of the members to move in one direction and for causing the other member to move in another direction during the line selecting movement.

In an automatic switch, passive contacts, active contacts mounted for movement in two intersecting planes, a cylindrical member to winch said active contacts are secured, said cylindrical member being provided with a spiral slot, an actuating member having an element cooperating with said slot, means for operating said actuating member, a controlling device for causing said members to move in the same direction while the said active contacts are moved in one plane and for causing one member to move in one direction and for causing the other member to move in another direction during the movement of the active contacts in the second plane.

4. In an automatic switch, passive contacts, active contacts mounted for vertical and rotary movement, a cylindrical member to which said active contacts are secured, said cylindrical member being provided with a spiral slot, an actuating member having an element cooperating with said slot, means for operating said actuating member, a controlling device for causing said members to move in the same direction during the vertical movement of said active contacts and for causing said actuating member to be moved vertically and for causing said cylindrical member to rotate during the rotary movement of said active contacts.

5. In an automatic switch, passive contacts, active contacts mounted for group and line selecting movements, a cylindrical mem ber to which said active contacts are secured, said cylindrical member being provided with a spiral slot, an actuating member having an element cooperating with said slot, means for operating said actuating member and a controlling device for locking said cylindrical member to said actuating member during the group selecting movement of said active contacts and for locking said cylindrical member against the movement with said actuating member during the line selecting movement of said active contacts.

6. In an automatic switch, passive contacts, active cont-acts mounted for movement in two intersecting planes, av cylindrical member to which said active contacts are secured, said cylindricalmember being provided with a spiral slot, an actuating member having an element cooperating with said slot, means for operating] said actuating member, a controlling device for locking said cylindrical member to said actuating member during the movement of said active contacts inone plane and for locking said cylindrical member against movement with said actuating member'during the movement of said activecontacts in the second plane.

71 Inan automatic switch, passive contacts, 'activecontacts mounted for vertical and rotary movement, a cylindrical member to which said active contacts are secured, said cylindrical member being provided with a spiral slot, an actuating member having an element cooperating with said slot, means for operating said actuating member, a controlling device for locking said cylindrical member to said actuating member during the vertical movement of said contacts and for causing said slot and element to efiect the rotation of said cylindrical member during the rotary movement of said active contacts.

8. In an automatic switch, passive contacts, active contacts mounted for vertical and rotary movement, a cylindrical member to which said active contacts are secured, said cylindrical member being provided with a spiral slot, an actuating member having a pin to cooperate withsaid slot, means for operating said actuating member, a controlling device for locking said members together to effect the vertical movement of said active contacts and for locking said cylindrical member against vertical movement to cause said pin and slot to effect the rotary movement of said active contacts during their second stage ofoperation.

9. In an automatic switch, passive contacts, active contacts mounted for group and line selecting movements, means for operating said active contacts,a controlling device operative in its normal position to permit group selection, means to move said controlling device in one direction to permit said active contacts to be actuated in a line selecting movement, and means to move said controlling device in the opposite direction to cause release of said active contacts.

1.0. In an automatic switch, fixed contacts, a member directively operable in one direction only, means for actuating said member, a second member cooperating with the first and arranged for movement in two intersecting planes, movable contacts mounted on said second member and cooperating with said fixed contacts, means for restoring said members, a rotatable controlling de-' rice in its normal position permitting said first mentioned element to move said brushes in one direction, means to move said device in one direction to cause said brushes to be moved in a second direction, and to move said devicein the opposite direction to cause the release of said members.

11. In an automatic switch, a bank of contacts arranged in groups, brushes ar 'anged to be moved into engagement with desired contacts in said bank in two selective movements, a shaft, a cylindrical shell support ing said brushes and arranged for rotation upon said shaft. means for locking said shell to said shaft during the first selective movement of said brushes, means for rotatiiig said cylindrical shell on said shaft during the second selective movement of said brushes, a magnet having a pair of armatures one of which is arranged to move said shaft in said selective movements and the other of wiich is arranged to control the unlocking of said. shell from said shaft at the end of the first selective movement.

12. In a telephone system, an automatic step-by-step switch having two selective movements, means including a magnet haw ing a pair of armatures for controlling the selective movements of said switch, means for sending current impulses through said magnet, means for causing one of Said armatures to vibrate in synchronism with said impulses, means for maintaining the other of said armatures in operated position during the sending of said impulses, and an auxiliary switch arranged to be positioned under the control of said last named armature.

13. In an automatic switch, fixed terminals, a ratchet member, a brush carriage rotatably mounted upon said ratchet member but normally locked thereto, brushes fixed to said brush carriage and mounted to en gage said fixed terminals, a stepping magnet having a slow acting armature and a quick acting armature, means to rotate said carriage on said ratchet member when unlocked from said member, a stepping pawl operated by said quick acting armature and arranged to control the movement of said ratchet member, and means controlled by the slow acting armature of said stepping magnet which causes the unlocking of said brush carriagefrom said ratchet member.

14:. In an automatic switch, fixed terminals, a plurality of brushes having longitudinal and. rotary selective movements to engage said fixed terminals, a longitudinally movable rod, a cylindrical shell rotatably mounted upon said rod, said brushes being fixed to said shell, "means to translate a vertical movement of said rod into a rotary movement of said shell, means for locking said shell against rotary movements during the first selective movement of said brushes, a combined mechanical and circuit controlling device having a pair of armatures for moving said rod, one of said armatures acting to move said rod in both of said selec -tive movements and the other of said armaiii turcs acting to control the operation of said locking means.

15. In an automatic switch, fixed terminals, a plurality of brushes mounted for vertical and rotary selective movements to en gage said "erminals, a common stepping magnet for both of said selecti e movements having a circuit controlling armature, an auxiliary switch nrehanism, means eoI1- trolled by said a xiliary switch mechanism for locking said brushes a ainst vertical movement during their rot movement, said auxiliary switch mechanism being governed by the controlling armature of said stepping mag-net.

In a telephone system, a plurality of lines divided into groups, an automatic switch haying motion in one plane to select groups and motion in a plane at right angles thereto for finding a line in a selected group, a combined mechanical and electrical said shaft and cooperating with said slot when said shell is unlocked to rotate said shell as said shaft is moved upwardly.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th day of November, A. D. 1917.

J OHh NEWBERRY REYNOLDS. 

